Hi,

Is there a minimum game requirement a recruit must start if they are promised a starting position?

I try to hit 22 of the first 26 games. Some say if you get behind early, and get a disgruntled email, it's hard to win them back over. 22 out of 26 has never failed me. Good luck.

21/26 was the long agreed upon “golden number”. It’s closer to 6 games.


1. Don’t start until complaint
2. Start after they complain for 6 games (or until you get the okay)
3. Back to the bench they go

I’ve tested a bit with some other coaches. Limited sample size but looks good so far.

yea im on the same page as upsetcity. whether it's promised starts or minutes, just **** them off early, then deliver until they send the "thank you!" email, and then do whatever you want from there - they're essentially locked in.

something else i have a limited sample on is that complaints will not come late, particularly if you have fewer than 6 regular season games remaining. i assume this is because there isn't enough time to make up for the broken promises so if you haven't gotten a complaint email by the near-end of the regular season, you're probably free and clear. i haven't tested this robustly, but i've noticed it anecdotally and it checks out in terms of how the system seems to function

I have a freshman with a promised start who I didn't start to begin the season. He sent me an email after game 7 around 5:00 ET that day, I didn't check my team that night, so didn't make him a starter for game 8, but he started games 9-11. After game 11 he sent me another negative email "How do you sleep at night...I'll make sure all my buddies here about how 'solid' your promises are". If I keep starting him is there a chance that he eventually comes back with the "Thank you" email, or is this the last I'll hear from him and there's a good chance he's gone after the season? I don't want to keep starting him if this logic is final now, but will if there is a chance to recover him.

Posted by bdashkiwsky on 3/24/2026 11:37:00 AM (view original):
I have a freshman with a promised start who I didn't start to begin the season. He sent me an email after game 7 around 5:00 ET that day, I didn't check my team that night, so didn't make him a starter for game 8, but he started games 9-11. After game 11 he sent me another negative email "How do you sleep at night...I'll make sure all my buddies here about how 'solid' your promises are". If I keep starting him is there a chance that he eventually comes back with the "Thank you" email, or is this the last I'll hear from him and there's a good chance he's gone after the season? I don't want to keep starting him if this logic is final now, but will if there is a chance to recover him.

I believe if you continue to start him, it could result in him coming back. It isn't a guarantee. I had a player get injured and miss minutes due to injury. They were able to help.

Posted by upsetcity on 3/24/2026 3:43:00 PM (view original):

Posted by bdashkiwsky on 3/24/2026 11:37:00 AM (view original):
I have a freshman with a promised start who I didn't start to begin the season. He sent me an email after game 7 around 5:00 ET that day, I didn't check my team that night, so didn't make him a starter for game 8, but he started games 9-11. After game 11 he sent me another negative email "How do you sleep at night...I'll make sure all my buddies here about how 'solid' your promises are". If I keep starting him is there a chance that he eventually comes back with the "Thank you" email, or is this the last I'll hear from him and there's a good chance he's gone after the season? I don't want to keep starting him if this logic is final now, but will if there is a chance to recover him.

I believe if you continue to start him, it could result in him coming back. It isn't a guarantee. I had a player get injured and miss minutes due to injury. They were able to help.

Thanks. I'm going to leave him as a starter for now. This is the first time I did this where he didn't come back with the "thank you" email. I'm thinking it's because I didn't start him for game 8.